1950-1964 Proof Set run: my observations and your comments.
keets
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I got a call yesterday from the local guy about an hour before he closed. He'd bought some proof sets and asked me to come help him look them over with the added disclaimer that they were already sold. Bummer!!! Here's what he had and the highlights.
1950--capital holder
1951--all original
1952--original minus the box
1953--all original
1954--one original and one in a capital holder
1955--box set in new poly bags
1956--2 original and one capital holder
1957-1964---multiples of original sets
1970--3 original sets
1981--3original sets
First off, he knows this stuff revs me up, especially the older original sets and pristine gem Cam's. The majority of the coins which were gem state would probably have needed some type of conservation to remove haze and bring up the mirrors before a service saw them to achieve their best grade-look-see. The sets were preserved quite well but father time takes his toll with crumbling cellophane and rusting staples.
Overall, the cents were the real winning coins. No true 2 sided Cam's but some extremely clean and spot free cents, especially the pre 1955's. I was struck by the 1953 which was quite nice but had the beginning of corrosion above the right wheat ear and the 1958 which was DCAM obverse but brilliant reverse. The 1952 set was almost 100% Cam of one kind or another. The half and dime had even frost both sides, the quarter was DCAM and the nickel was lightly frosted with haze but the toning was outrageous!! The 1950 and one 1954 half were nice considering they were repackaged. Most of the coins were minimally hairlined.
Sorry Russ, no AH Kennedy in the 1964 sets. Two of the 1970's were the "level 7" variety and all the SBA's were T1. The most exciting moment was when i got to the 1956 sets. I flipped one of the packs over to check T1-2 on the half and it was a T1 and frosted nicely. Unfortunately the obverse was quite brilliant!! Out of the three 1956 sets, 2 were the T1 reverse which i found to be wierd. How could one collector get 2 sets like that without knowing what he was getting or had??
This was all included in a lot sold by a gentleman who came to our club meeting last Tuesday, joined up and wanted to clear out some stuff. He also had a 1909-S Lincoln and a 1908-S IHC in nice brown XF that I had a chance to glance at. I'm going back today for some extra viewing!!!
To all others who enjoy these early 1950's sets, don't give up hope. They're still out there. I try to remember that the owners of the remaining sets are most likely in there 60's and 70's and have held the sets since they were released by the mint. I only hope they were cared for like these originals and handled only occasionally.
al h.
1950--capital holder
1951--all original
1952--original minus the box
1953--all original
1954--one original and one in a capital holder
1955--box set in new poly bags
1956--2 original and one capital holder
1957-1964---multiples of original sets
1970--3 original sets
1981--3original sets
First off, he knows this stuff revs me up, especially the older original sets and pristine gem Cam's. The majority of the coins which were gem state would probably have needed some type of conservation to remove haze and bring up the mirrors before a service saw them to achieve their best grade-look-see. The sets were preserved quite well but father time takes his toll with crumbling cellophane and rusting staples.
Overall, the cents were the real winning coins. No true 2 sided Cam's but some extremely clean and spot free cents, especially the pre 1955's. I was struck by the 1953 which was quite nice but had the beginning of corrosion above the right wheat ear and the 1958 which was DCAM obverse but brilliant reverse. The 1952 set was almost 100% Cam of one kind or another. The half and dime had even frost both sides, the quarter was DCAM and the nickel was lightly frosted with haze but the toning was outrageous!! The 1950 and one 1954 half were nice considering they were repackaged. Most of the coins were minimally hairlined.
Sorry Russ, no AH Kennedy in the 1964 sets. Two of the 1970's were the "level 7" variety and all the SBA's were T1. The most exciting moment was when i got to the 1956 sets. I flipped one of the packs over to check T1-2 on the half and it was a T1 and frosted nicely. Unfortunately the obverse was quite brilliant!! Out of the three 1956 sets, 2 were the T1 reverse which i found to be wierd. How could one collector get 2 sets like that without knowing what he was getting or had??
This was all included in a lot sold by a gentleman who came to our club meeting last Tuesday, joined up and wanted to clear out some stuff. He also had a 1909-S Lincoln and a 1908-S IHC in nice brown XF that I had a chance to glance at. I'm going back today for some extra viewing!!!
To all others who enjoy these early 1950's sets, don't give up hope. They're still out there. I try to remember that the owners of the remaining sets are most likely in there 60's and 70's and have held the sets since they were released by the mint. I only hope they were cared for like these originals and handled only occasionally.
al h.
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Comments
I wish they had packaged the coins as carefully as they made them back in the 50s, but still, the coins are great as is the history they represent.
A much more innocent time.
Thanks,
Oldshep
thanks for the description of the collection, it's always nice to search old collections, even if it is vicariously
I agree they're still out there, in various states of preservation.
maybe you remember the thread about a boxed 1954 proof set from a couple of days ago, the staple had rusted and tarnished the coins. I dipped the quarter and it came out pretty well, definitely better.
I'll take an "after" pic and post it to compare with the before:
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